Education Services Committee

Tuesday 18 September 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCabe, McGraw, Mitchell, Morrison (D), O’Rourke, Robertson (A), Father T Boyle and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Accountancy Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Robertson (Y).

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted presentation was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be advised of the progress of the Community Schools Initiative at the earliest possible date.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

800

Presentation:  Larkfield New Community School

800

The Committee heard a presentation by Mr Jack Whiteford, Integration Manager, Larkfield New Community School, on the background to the establishment by the Government of the new community schools, setting out the scope and aims of the Larkfield Community School Project and providing examples of the work carried out to date to satisfy the project aims.  Also present was Ms Ann Cubitt, Head Teacher, Larkfield Primary School.

Mr Whiteford and Ms Cubitt then answered a number of questions from Members, following which they left the meeting.

801

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 5

801

There was submitted a report dated 5 September 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 5 (22 August 2001).

Noted

802

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

802

There was submitted a report dated 24 August 2001 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

803

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04 - Financial Position

803

There was submitted a report dated 30 August 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

804

Projected Payments to Private Contractors for Special and Medical Needs Transport - Financial Year 2001/02

804

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

805

Budget 2001 - Additional Financial Resources for Schools:  Circular No 4/2001

805

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of additional financial resources made available to schools through Scottish Executive Education Department Circular No 4/2001.  There was circulated to the Committee, amended Appendix 2 showing the basis for distribution of the  grant which amounted to £170,000.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of Scottish Executive Circular No 4/2001 be noted;  and

(2) that the allocations to individual schools as set out in amended Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

806

School Buildings Improvement Fund:  Circular No 6/2001

806

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the School Buildings Improvement Fund detailed in Scottish Executive Circular No 6/2001 and (2) requesting the Committee to approve the use of the grant totalling £225,000 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report which was circulated at the meeting.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of Scottish Executive Circular 6/2001 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted;

(2) that approval be given for utilisation of the funds for the following projects:

Project                                                                                         Cost

Gourock High School - Window Replacement                              £  22,000

St Columba's High School - Roofing Works                                  £  30,000

Glenburn School - Heating System Upgrade: Phase 1                    £130,000

Kilmacolm Primary School - Boiler Replacement                           £  10,000

Sacred Heart Primary School - Boiler Replacement                       £  10,000

Balance                                                                                        £  23,000

Total                                                                                             £225,000

(3) that authority be granted to the Director of Legal and Support Services to invite tenders for the various projects;  and

(4) that delegated authority be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest tenders received in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations.

807

School Holiday Arrangements 2002/2003

807

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services requesting the Committee to approve arrangements for school holidays for session 2002/2003.

Decided:

(1) that the school holiday arrangements for 2002/2003 as outlined in Appendix 2 - Option 2 be approved;  and

(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to report to the Committee at the appropriate time on any proposed alterations to the Easter Holiday arrangements for session 2003/2004 onwards.

808

Highlanders Academy - Roofing Works

808

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the implications of undertaking roofing works at Highlanders Academy as part of the Corporate Business Major Repairs Programme 2001/2002.

Decided:

(1) that the implications of the proposed roofing works at Highlanders Academy on the operation of the school be noted;

(2) that the technical issues outlined in the report which require the work to be carried out when the school is unoccupied be noted;

(3) that to make maximum use of the school holidays, the works be planned to start on site at the commencement of the Easter Holidays 2002 and for these to be completed in September 2002 thus allowing the pupils to return to the school in August 2002;

(4) that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to make provision of approximately £61,000 within the Education Services Revenue Budget for 2002/2003 in respect of the estimated relocation costs;  and

(5) that it be noted that a further report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee outlining proposals for the temporary accommodation to be used and including more detailed estimated revenue costs arising from the temporary relocation.

809

St Ninian's Nursery, Gourock

809

There was submitted a report dated August 2001 by the Director of Education Services providing updated information on proposals for a new build nursery at St Ninian's Primary School, Gourock.  The report advised that the only scheme acceptable to the Head of Transportation and Roads Service, amounting to £655,000, was the most extensive of those costed and was not considered value for money.

Decided:

(1) that the proposal to provide a new build nursery at St Ninian's Primary School be deleted from the Capital Programme;  and

(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services in consultation with the Head of Property Services to identify suitable alternative permanent premises for the nursery and to report thereon to the Committee.

810

Greenock High School/Glenburn Bridge

810

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the results of the consultations with the Scottish Executive and the Trunk Roads Authority with regard to the proposed construction of a replacement bridge at Greenock High School/Glenburn.  The report advised that the proposal, which was acceptable to the Scottish Executive, was to demolish the existing bridge deck and replace this with a new online loadbearing structure on new foundations which would provide a new permanent road crossing with footpath provision to match the existing one.  It was noted that the estimated cost of the project was £292,000 inclusive of fees, £67,000 greater than the estimate of £225,000 reported to the Committee in May 2001.

Decided:

(1) that the current  position with regard to the project to replace the bridge at Greenock High School/Glenburn be noted;

(2) that approval be given to proceed to detailed design stage with the proposal to demolish the existing bridge deck and replace this with a new online loadbearing structure on new foundations;

(3) that it be noted that the increase in the cost estimate for the project from £225,000 to £292,000 cannot be contained within the Education Services Capital Programme and that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide the £67,000 funding required;  and

(4) that authority be granted to the Director of Legal and Support Services to invite tenders for the works and that delegated authority be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations, all subject to the necessary additional funding being provided by the Policy and Strategy Committee.

The Convener, being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Education Services was relevant, competent and urgent, moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be advised as soon as possible of a second award granted by the New Opportunities Fund.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

811

New Opportunities Fund Award

811

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of a second award, totalling £258,848, granted by the New Opportunities Fund to Education Services for out of hours activities in 15 further schools for the three year period 2001-2004.  The report advised that the total amount awarded under the programme was £489,038 for the three year period.u

Decided:

(1) that the granting of the second award totalling £258,848 by the New Opportunities Fund to Education Services be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that the total award received under the Out of School Hours New Opportunities Fund programme was £489,038.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

812

School Security 2001/2002

812

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the progress of the design of the school security project 2001/2002 and (2) requesting permission to negotiate a tender with a contractor which was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.